Epilogue

As the Senate trial of President Trump comes to its predicable conclusion, Senators are taking time to address their colleagues (really constituents) on the Senate floor to explain their reasoning behind their upcoming vote on Wednesday.

Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of three Republicans who were considering a call for both witnesses and White House documents (both were refused by the White House), said, “The president’s behavior was shameful and wrong. His personal interests do not take precedent over those of this great nation.”

“I’ve taken tough votes before,” Murkowski added, “to uphold the integrity of our courts. When it became clear that a tie vote here in the Senate would simply be used to burn down our third branch of government for partisan political purposes, I said, just enough.”

You’ve “taken tough votes before…”?

This isn’t just another tough vote, Senator. This is likely to be the most consequential vote of your career. This is a vote to support truth over lies, and principle over political expediency to hold a clearly corrupt president accountable.

Sorry, Senator the poor process argument just doesn’t wash in the light of clear and compelling testimony from a whole host of individuals who did not misunderstand, misinterpret or misdiagnose what the president’s intentions were when he asked Ukrainian President Zelensky, “But I want you to do use a favor, though.”

It’s interesting that Murkowski uses the word “integrity” “…to uphold the integrity of our courts,” something Trump consistently has criticized and often used as a way to avoid consequences.

What about the integrity of Congress when this president directs everyone in his administration to refuse legal subpoenas, Senator?

What about the integrity of Congress when this president withholds congressionally requested White House documents?

What about the integrity of the Senate abdicating their duty in holding any official – especially the president – accountable for withholding congressionally approved funds until a foreign government and ally announces an investigation into a potential political rival?

“His personal interests do not take precedent over those of this great nation,” Murkowski said.

And yet, Murkowski is using the excuse – yes, it is an excuse – to let this president off the hook, again. Remember how the Mueller Report found 10 instances where Trump obstructed justice, Senator?

While I recognize that was not in the articles of impeachment, this president continues to obstruct anything he doesn’t like in favor of his “personal interests… over those of this great nation,” Senator and you know it!

And so, the Trump-McConnell ticket lives to fight on, continuing their march to demolish the trust and confidence of vital agencies that protect us: the intelligence community, military, Justice, FBI and State.

Once again, the liar-in-chief continues to skate through yet another corruption crisis with no consequences for behavior Republicans describe as “wrong, but not impeachable.”

Once again, Republicans, with no shame, stand behind this president, because backbones are just too costly and a moral conscience, untenable.

In a final argument before the Senate votes on Wednesday, House manager Adam Schiff made it as clear as possible to Republicans when he asked if the Senate could trust Trump.

“The short, plain, sad, incontestable answer is no, you can’t. You can’t trust this president to do the right thing, not for one minute, not for one election, not for the sake of our country, you just can’t. He will not change and you know it!” Schiff said, adding, “A man without character or ethical compass will never find his way.”

The reckoning of Donald Trump is now left to the voters to decide. My hope is that most Americans will vote for truth over lies and honor over arrogance.